Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-05-13
Making Congressional Districts.

We are aware that the making OF
Congressional districts is very dill
ficult task. The Legislature OF this
State has wrestled with the subject
often lofore, but never seems to have
had the trouble it has now on hand.
The districting which is being done
now should have been done by the
last Legislature, and years before
this. but was prevented or defeated
by causes that need not now be re-
called.
The bill recently passed by the
present House looked at least in rea-
sonabIe shape as regards the western
districts of the State. But the one
reported in the Senate this week,and
which it is stated will be urged in
stead of the House bill, contains we
think fatal objections. In no less
than three districts of the Senate bill
there are four counties laying all in
q row or string and running almost
halt across the State in one direction
or another In all of these cases two
of these four counties, the ones at
each end, are not only very remote
from each other but are not connect
ed in any wise, The said districts
are therefore in conflict with the
Constitution which requires districts
to be composed of as compact and
contiguous territory as possible.
The districts referred to are the
Oath, composed of Greene. Washing
ton, Beaver and Lawrence counties;
the 26th, composed of Butler, Arm
strong, Indiana and Jefferson counties;
the 9th, composed of Mercer, Ven-
ango, Warren and Mexican counties.
A glance at the map will show how
and where these counties Lie, land that
the end counties in some of them are
as distant as hundred miles or more
apart and the districts anything but
compact and contiguous"
Could this not be remedied? We
venture to say it can, and improve
ments made as follows, and without
disturbing other districts, or making
unequal or doing any injustice in other
quarters.
For the Oath or Washington coun-
ty district, where by the way the
trouble in districting always COM
mences, suppose that part of Ale
gheny county laying along Washing
ton, but now put in the Fayette, or
25th district, be put in with Wash
ington and Greene counties. That
would be natural district and also
a reasonably certain Republican one.
For the 25th district, say Fayette,
Westmoreland and Indiana coun-
ties.
For the 26th, Beaver, Lawrence,
Butler and Armstrong counties. JEFF
ferson county to be added to the For
est, Elk and Cleariield district, where
it naturally belongs, and Clarion TAX
en- therefrom.
For the 9th district, Mercer, Ven
ango, Clarion and Warren couGties.
Thisleaves but Mexican county now in
the Mercer district, to be disposed of
in order to put in reasonable sha pc
the above three districts, that look so
unshapely in the proposed Senate
bill. If Mexican be added to the
Potter and Tioga district that dis
trict will be but little larger in pop.
ulation than some of the others here
in referred to. We do not presume
to think that the above suggestions
are new, or have escaped the atten-
tion of the Senate committee, but W g
submit that they are worthy of con-
sideration, inasmuch as the stringing
out Of four counties in row will not
only make unnatural but unwieldy
districts, as well as being liable to
to Constitutional objection.